Home > Environment & Natural Resources > Forestry > [image: Adding Value to Forestry] . Stump Removal from Home Grounds Most homeowners enjoy the presence of beautiful trees in their yards; however, when these trees must be removed, unsightly stumps remain. Quick, easy and cheap methods to remove these stumps do not exist, but here are some helpful tips on what can be done. Hire an Arborist for Residential Tree Needs [Image: Arborist Dave Leonard uses and air knife to remedy soil compaction under a live oak tree in New Orleans.] Sound stewardship of urban and community trees includes employing the services of arborists to help maintain their health and vitality. This article provides the homeowner tips on finding and hiring a tree care professional for your residential tree care needs. Webinar: Managerial Assistance [Image: SuccessFactors Website] All businesses need assistance in creating a business plan, setting goals and improving employee retainability. SuccessFactor is a company that produces integrated Performance & Talent Management solutions. Visit to register for upcoming Webinars or to view archived presentations. Many documents available for download. Very helpful! Understanding the Treated Lumber Quality Mark [Image: Example treated lumber quality mark] This article provides a brief overview of the information provided by the quality mark on treated lumber.  more articles... Workshop: “Practical Wood Identification” The goal of this workshop is to familiarize participants of the proper procedure to correctly identify an unknown wood species.This workshop is intended for wood working hobbyists, craftsmen, and industry personnel that are interested in learning to properly identify wood. Individuals with little or no previous experience at wood identification are encouraged to attend. Workshop: “Drying Lumber For Quality and Profit” The Louisiana Forest Products Development Center, part of the Louisiana State University AgCenter, will be hosting a comprehensive 3 day lumber drying workshop “Drying Lumber For Quality and Profit” on July 23-25, 2008. The workshop will be held on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, La. This workshop will thoroughly cover the lumber drying process from start to finish of hardwood and softwood lumber. LSU Ag Center sponsors forest landowner forum during Ag Expo (Distributed 01/25/08) The South remains the wood basket of the world, said William Hubbard, southern regional extension forester from Athens, Ga., at the Forest Landowner Forum held in West Monroe Jan. 19, 2008. ‘Choose-And-Cut’ Tree Season Begins (Distributed 11/20/07) An annual tradition in the South is the opening of most "choose-and-cut" Christmas tree farms on the Friday following Thanksgiving. Tree Issues In The Urban Landscape Landscape beds, parking lots, and construction activities around trees are all possible without harming the trees if you understand where the tree roots are and what they need to survive. Use these guidelines to protect trees in potentially damaging situations. Sawmill Sawdust Particle Size vs. Potential Effects on Health [Image: Human Respiratory System] There are some concerns that the sawdust produced at a sawmill might be to small and that it might affect respiratory health. This study analyzed particle size from 5 different machine centers in a hardwood sawmill with a microscope and concluded that minimum particle size was too large to be considered harmfull to the human respiratory system. It should be noted that this study did not examine the effects of sawdust with regards to the development of cancer cells in the human body. Use Of A Value-added Wood Products Extension Specialist [Image: Louisiana Agricultural Commodity Economic Contribution] Louisiana has beautiful and bountiful natural forest resources. An Extension Specialist can help add value to forest products, which will demonstrate the skills and creativity inherent to Louisiana. Study On Forests, Forest Products Sets Stage For Educational Programs Certified forests may be the next trend in lumber marketing, but non-industrial, private forest landowners generally are unwilling to foot the bill, according to a recent study. Biomass Energy Resources in Louisiana [Image: Biomass Energy] A description of how biomass is being used for energy in Louisiana with an emphasis on the potential for expansion in the industry. (Revised 11/06) Drainage BMPs for Road Construction (Video 11/21/06) Discussions of forestry best managment practices related to drainage in building roads during harvest. (Running Time: 60 seconds) More...